Hartalika Teej is a popular fast observed by Hindu women during the monsoon season. On this day, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped for marital harmony. This year, the festival will be observed on August 11 (Wednesday).

While there are three important Teej festivals in India – Hartalika Teej, Hariyali Teej and Kajri Teej, Hartalika is celebrated with much fervour. On this day, women dress up, decorate their hands with henna and also observe a fast.

The word is made up of ‘Harat’ and ‘Aalika’ which means “abduction of a woman friend”. According to a legend, Parvati’s friend once took her into a thick forest forcefully so she could marry Lord Vishnu. However, that was not to be so.

According to Drik Panchang, on this day, devotees make statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with sand and worship them. The world ‘hartalika‘ is made up of two words ‘harat‘ and ‘aalika‘ which mean ‘abduction’ and ‘female friend’, respectively. According to Hindu mythology, a friend of Goddess Parvati had taken her to a forest so she could hide from her father who wanted her to marry Lord Vishnu, much against her wish.

If you are planning to sit down for puja, keep in mind that the morning time is ideal. Mostly, people start praying after taking an early bath, and getting dressed in fine clothes. The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm by married women in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Besides Hartalika Teej, the two teej festivals which are celebrated in the Sawan and Bhadrapada months are: Hariyali Teej and Kajari Teej.

According to the legend associated with Hariyali Teej, Lord Shiva reminds Goddess Parvati about the number of times she took rebirths to win his heart. Mata Parvati had forgotten all that happened in the 107 previous births. Therefore Lord Shiva narrated the stories of her struggles, determination and perseverance to her. Mata Parvati took her 108th birth at the house of the King of Himalayas.

During this birth, Mata Parvati performed intense penance to win Lord Shiva’s heart. She survived on dry leaves after giving up food and water. She braved harsh weather, hail and storm and continued with her penance. After seeing her undergo so much pain, her father was distraught.

A few days later, Devarshi Narada Muni visited her father’s palace as Lord Vishnu’s representative with a marriage proposal. After learning that Lord Vishnu has expressed his desire to marry his daughter, the father beamed with joy, but this news left Parvati devastated. Therefore, she sought one of her friend’s help and hid in a thick forest. The king of Himalayas sent his soldiers to nook and corner, but all their efforts went in vain. Meanwhile, Lord Shiva appeared before Parvati and granted her the boon of having him as her husband. He also asked her to inform her father about her decision not to marry Lord Vishnu. Eventually, after learning about his daughter’s desire, the father invited Lord Shiva and got Parvati married to him.

Therefore, on the day of Hariyali Teej (Tritiya Tithi, Shukla Paksha Shravan), women worship Lord Shiva and Parvati and seek their blessings for a blissful married life. It is also a special occasion for unmarried girls, who wish to marry the man of their choice.

Hariyali Teej dos

–              Apply mehendi on your palms one day before the puja

–              Next day, wake up early and take a bath

–              Maintain celibacy

–              Be prepared for the vrat. In case you have any existing medical condition, avoid keeping a vrat. You must keep yourself hydrated and well-nourished to prevent health issues.

–              Dress up in your best fineries.

–              Perform the puja and pray to Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati for yourself, your husband and everyone else whom you love.

–              Enjoy yourself thoroughly as it is a day meant for making the most of the festivities.

–              Listen to the Hariyali Teej Vrat Katha to learn essential life lessons.

Hariyali Teej don’ts

–              Do not exert yourself if you are not in a position to keep a vrat. It is okay not to observe fast. Take part in the festivities and pray to the Gods wholeheartedly.

–              It is a day to enjoy; therefore, do not take the stress. Make the most of the festivities and celebrate it with family.

–              Do not let the akhand jyot (oil or ghee lamp) lit before the deity extinguish. Make sure it has sufficient fuel to remain ignited throughout the day.

Significance

The Tritiya Tithi (third day) in the month of Shravan, Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the Moon) is believed to be the day when Lord Shiva had blessed Mata Parvati with the boon of choosing him as her husband. And since Mata Parvati’s Tapasya bore fruits on this day, it is considered to be the day of her reunion with Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is also known as Shiva’s Shakti, meaning strength.

Shiva and Shakti are inseparable, and therefore, unmarried girls wish for a husband of their choice, and married women pray for the well-being and long life of their husband. Thus by worshipping for their husband, women wish to remain Atal Suhagan (blissfully married forever).

And since Teej festivities are about celebrating the institution of marriage, women get dressed in their best fineries, primarily green in colour. Applying of Mehendi on the palms, wearing green-coloured bangles, swinging on Jhoolas hung from a tree or an open courtyard, singing and dancing all are an integral part of the celebrations. The colour green represents everlasting prosperity and auspiciousness, and hence the importance.

Parents of the married women send a gift pack for her and her in-laws. This gift is called Sindhara, and it contains new clothes, accessories, Ghewar (a type of sweet), mehendi etc. Therefore, Hariyali Teej is also known as Sindhara Teej or Shravan Teej since it falls in the month of Shravan. Women who hail from the states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana.